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LOCAL MAN KILLED DURING SEARCH

October 2, 2002 - A 23-year-old Preble County man was shot and killed on Friday, Sept.  27, when law enforcement officers attempted to execute a search warrant at his home.  The man was shot by an officer serving in the Preble County Emergency Services Unit.

Clayton J.  Helriggle, 1282 Ohio 503 South, near West Alexandria, was pronounced dead after suffering a single shot in the chest.  According to Preble County Sheriff Tom Hayes, the name of the officer involved in the shooting is being withheld at this time.

According to a press statement released on the following day, the Preble County Sheriff's Office was executing a search warrant on Friday evening when the incident occurred.  The statement reads, "Upon entering the residence, deputies encountered a male subject coming down the staircase with a weapon.  An officer reacted to this subject, and subsequently shot and killed him."

According to Hayes, the search warrant was obtained earlier that afternoon following a "short-term" drug-related investigation which lasted a few days.

The warrant was served by the Emergency Service Unit which is comprised on sheriff's deputies and officers from Eaton, Lewisburg and New Paris.

Although the facts of the case are being disputed by Helriggle's family and friends, Hayes adamantly stands firm with what he considers the facts in the case.

Hayes stated on Monday, the officers entered the rear of the house through an unlocked door, announcing themselves and stating they had a search warrant as they entered.

"Once inside the rear of the house, an officer was confronted with a man coming down the stairway with a gun," Hayes said.  "The officer fired at him with a shotgun, striking him in the chest."

According to Hayes, a 9 mm handgun was found on the stairway after the shooting took place.  The gun has been confiscated and held as evidence.

Hayes also added, the gun was "loaded and had one shell in the chamber."

The fact that Helriggle was actually carrying a gun has been disputed by family and friends of the victim.  In fact, the group staged a protest in front of the courthouse on Monday, claiming Helriggle was holding a blue cup when he came down the stairway, not a gun.

Hayes reacted to the claim, stating the only cup that was found following the incident was on the kitchen table.

The officer involved in the shooting has been placed on administrative leave, pending an investigation which is being conducted by the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office.  According to Hayes, this is standard procedure following this type of incident.

Once the investigation is complete, this information will be taken to the Preble County Prosecuting Attorney's Office for presentation to a Preble County grand jury.

Hayes also stated, once the shooting incident occurred, the search of the house was immediately stopped in order to "preserve the scene." The house was secured during the overnight hours as investigators collected evidence.

On Saturday, according to the press statement, the search resumed and a small quantity of "marijuana, pills, drug paraphernalia and quantities of packaging items used in the distribution of marijuana" was seized.

As of Monday, no arrests had been made, according to Hayes.

Hayes also reacted on Monday to published reports officers were "celebrating" after the incident.

"For anyone to think we would be celebrating after someone got shot is absolutely absurd."